From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   They should just rename their party to Dying Dinosaurs. 'Conservatives' is   
   much too progressive.   
   __________________________________   
   CBC News · Posted: Mar 20, 2021   
      
   Conservative delegates reject adding 'climate change is real' to the policy   
   book   
      
   Conservative delegates at the party's policy convention have voted to reject   
   adding green-friendly statements to the policy book — including a line that   
   would have stated the party believes "climate change is real" and is "willing   
   to act."   
      
   The Portneuf—Jacques—Cartier riding in Quebec, which proposed the policy   
   change, also asked delegates to recognize that "Canadian businesses classified   
   as highly polluting need to take more responsibility" and "reduce their GHG   
   emissions."   
      
   Delegates issued a rebuke to climate-minded Conservatives and rejected the   
   policy shift by a margin of 54 per cent to 46. In fact, it was one of only   
   four policy proposals or modifications on a list of 50 pitched by electoral   
   riding associations (EDAs)    
   that were rejected by the delegates.   
      
   While delegates from each of the Atlantic provinces and Quebec embraced the   
   "climate change is real" proposal — 70 per cent of delegates from New   
   Brunswick and Quebec were onside with it — those from every other province   
   and the territories voted    
   against the change.   
      
   In B.C., the "no" side had just a two-point edge, while the vote was much more   
   lopsided in Saskatchewan (73 per cent against), the territories (69 per cent   
   opposed), Alberta (62 per cent opposed) and Ontario (58 per cent opposed).   
      
   A double majority of delegates — a majority of delegates overall and the   
   majority of delegates in the majority of provinces — must agree to an   
   official policy change.   
      
   The clear rejection came hours after Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole urged   
   party members to embrace change or risk losing again to Prime Minister Justin   
   Trudeau and the Liberals in the next election.   
      
   O'Toole said that if party members are serious about winning, they must   
   embrace new ideas — even if they go against party orthodoxy.   
      
   O'Toole told delegates the party "cannot ignore the reality of climate change"   
   and that the debate "is over."   
      
   "We must also recognize that Canadians expect us to have a real plan for the   
   environment. We need to boldly reclaim the environment as an area where   
   Conservatives are leaders," he said.   
      
   There was a fierce debate over this policy change during the policy convention   
   Friday, with a clear split in the party ranks over how far the Conservatives   
   should go in addressing climate change.   
      
   Some delegates embraced a shift in posture, saying they want Canada to adopt   
   green technology while still supporting extractive industries like the oil and   
   gas sector. Others called the proposal an unnecessary gesture to appease   
   climate activists.   
      
   "I'm not sure why it's necessary for the Conservative Party to declare climate   
   change is real," one delegate from Scarborough-Centre said.   
      
   "The way this section is worded befuddles the issue and may cost us some   
   support. Conservatives need to lead with clarity, focus and intelligent   
   solutions, not buzzwords."   
      
   Another delegate, from Perth—Wellington in Ontario, said environmental   
   policy should not be focused on driving down greenhouse gas emissions.   
      
   "It's not the only pollutant that we have to worry about," he said. "I'm   
   opposed to this amendment because it unfairly centres on greenhouse gas   
   emissions."   
      
      
   Delegates also reject medical assistance in dying   
      
   Delegates also rejected a modification to the policy book that would have   
   changed the party's stance on medical assistance in dying — swapping the   
   statement that the party would not support any legislation that would   
   "legalize euthanasia or assisted    
   suicide" for one that says it would oppose "the extension of euthanasia and   
   assisted suicide" to minors and people living with "psychological suffering."   
      
   By a 55-44 vote, delegates voted to keep the status quo.   
      
   This policy modification may have been rejected because delegates also voted   
   for a similarly worded resolution that reaffirms the party "opposes euthanasia   
   and assisted suicide" and will stand against any expansions of the current   
   law. The federal    
   government recently extended access to medical assistance in dying with Bill   
   C-7.   
      
   Delegates also voted down proposals that would have scrubbed a Conservative   
   policy position backing a national missing persons' registry.   
      
   They also voted to maintain their stance on section 13 of the Canadian Human   
   Rights Act.   
      
   That section — which is no longer in force, having been repealed by a   
   Conservative private member's bill in 2014 — prohibited online   
   communications which were "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or   
   contempt" on the basis of a prohibited    
   ground of discrimination, such as race, national or ethic origin, colour or   
   religion. Complainants could bring their cases to the Canadian Human Rights   
   Commission.   
      
   This section of the act was loathed by free speech advocates, who said it went   
   too far in policing online content.   
   __________________________________________   
      
   In summary, the Conservatives still stand for:   
   - no acceptance of climate change - or action to tackle it   
   - against medically-assisted dying   
   - maintain right to post online communications which were "likely to expose a   
   person or persons to hatred or contempt" based race, national or ethic origin,   
   colour or religion   
      
   Fill your boots, haters - THIS is the party for you on election day!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)